Evening Star Newspaper, November 8, 1931, Page 57

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. ONTRARY to popular be-’ lief, the two “goats” of all motor vehicle accidents— the pedestrian and the taxicab driver—are given a bet-; ter bill of health than the op- | erator of pleasure cars in an ex- | haustive survey of the subject of | automobile accidents, the result of which has just been published | by the policyholders’ service bu- | reau of one of the large national | insurance companies. The insur- ance company undertook the sur- | vey at the request of the Na- | tional Association of Taxicab | Owners, and has co-ordinated the | report as a part of its own cam- | paign for the reduction of acci- | dents of all types. The findings | are published in a pamphlet en- | titled “Preventing Taxicab Acci- | dents, a Study of Safety Activi- ties in the Taxicab Industry.” Groups Analyzed. | As a part of the survey, the rccords of a group of companies | were analyzed. This group op- erated 1,819 cabs last year, cover- ing a total of 51,212,768 miles. The cabs were involved in 11,933 acci- | dents. Sixty-seven per cent of these accidents resulted from col- lision with private cars, occurring | at the rate of 15.65 per cent per | 100,000 miles. Collision between | taxicabs only occurred at the rate | of 1.08 per 100,000 miles; between | taxicabs and pedestrians at the rate of 1.04 per 100,000 miles, while between taxicabs and trucks the rate was only 0.59. The accident experience of the taxicab industry is but a small contributing factor to the con- stantly increasing motor vehicle accident record of the country, says the report. “According to the United States Census Bureau, | the National Safety Council and other sources, 33,000 motor vehic- le fatalities occurred in 1930, an increase of 5.7 per cent over 1929. The rate of these fatalities per 100,000 registered motor vehicles rose from 117.8 for 1929 to 1244 in 1930; while the rate per 100,000 population increased from 25.7 in 1929 to 26.8 in 1930. Using the generally accepted ratio of 35 non-fatal injuries to one death, it is estimated that more than one million persons are injured annually through motor vehicle accidents. 26,501,443 Registered Autos. Based upon estimates of the National Association of Taxicab Owners, 80,000 of the 26,501,443 registered automobiles in the United States are taxicabs. This figures out at the rate of 330 other cars for each taxicab. The an- nual taxicab mileage is estimated at two and one-fifth billion miles, or approximately 1 per cent of the total motor vehicle mileage in the country. In New York City, according to the report of the mayor’s com- mission on taxicabs, of the 737- 062 motor vehicles registered, 19,507 or 2.6 per cent are taxi- cabs. But of the total motor vehicle mileage of the city, esti- mated at 23800,000,000 miles in 1929, 32 per cent or 900,000,000 miles has been given as the cab mileage for the year. The com- mission pointed out that the aver- age cab driver in New York is, perhaps, a safer driver than the average operator of a private car. In the entire State of New York, according to the 1930 report of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 5 per cent of the 3345 motor vehicles involved in fatal acci- dents were taxicabs, while 60.7 er cent were private cars. Sim- fiarly, 175 per cent of the 128, 774 motor vehicles involved in ac- cidents resulting in non-fatal in- juries were cabs and 65 per cent were privately owned cars. The economic waste in the United States incident to motor vehicle accidents, in 1931, it is estimated bv the National Safety Council, will reach $900,000.000. Considering an amount which can be allocated proportionately to taxicabs, it will be noted that a heavy charge is borne by this industry. In making the survey, the rec- ords of certain individual drivers were also reviewed to determine to what extent these employes were accident-prone, the reasons for this condition and the meth- ods which might be used to over- come it. Share of Accidents. Among the 1294 drivers of a group of taxicab companies, it was found that one-third of the | accidents occurred at the rate of 2.86 per 100,000 miles and were second in the order of import- ance. These two types, taken to- gether, represented practically 80 per cent of the accidents. Par- ticular attention is called to the accident rate resulting from colli- sions with pedestrians, which, ac- cording to this report, was only 1.04 per 100,000 miles. Five circumstances, or, as they are frequently termed, “apparent causes,” were responsible for 64.3 per cent of the collisions with private motor vehicles, according to the report. These five causes, in the order of their frequency, were: Contesting right of way; inattention to street or traffic; following too closely; too fast for conditions, and no control at in- tersection. The report points out that it is apparent the best re- sults in accident prevention work could be obtained by concentra- tion on the above-mentioned phases of the problem. The report further states that of those accidents involving col- lisions with fixed objects, nearly 50 per cent were the result of open or improperly closed doors strik- ing lamp-posts, fire hydrants, sign-posts, poles, etc., either after accepting or discharging passen- gers. A large number also re- sulted when the cab was out of control from skidding on icy or wet pavement or from traveling too fast for conditions. Women Involved. Almost 80 per cent of the non- collision accidents involved wom- en, who, upon entering or leaving cabs, struck their heads against the deck, the report says.. Fre- quently, high-heeled shoes caused women to trip when stepping on to the running board, or caused them to turn an ankle when ris- ing to leave the cab. In most cases, infuries to hands and fin- gers when closing cab doors in- volved women and children. Women and children also pre- dominated in the number of ac- cidents resulting when cabs stopped quickly, throwing passen- gers out of their seats and against the front partition. Although male passengers were occasion- ally subject to accidents of this kind, their injuries were usually minor ones. Apparently differ- ence in stature between the sexes had a bearing on the cccurrence of accidents to passengers when the cabs stopped too quickly, or were jarred severely by defects in the roadway. The report details that “fault of others” was responsible for 7.5 accidents per 100,000 miles, ac- cording to the reports of drivers when no additional information was obtained. Also it was shown that a large percentage of acci- dents resulted apparently from careless operating methods; and a small percentage, practically one-fourth of an accident per 100,000 miles, resulted from the lack of proper mechanical inspec- tion and maintenance. Place of Accidents. While it is usually considered that an intersection is the most dangerous portion of a thorough- fare, a special study, involving 1,896 accidents, showed that ap- proximately 40 per cent of them occurred between intersections. The report continues: Nearly 90 per cent of the 193 non-collision accidents, in this special group, occurred in the middle of the block. On the other hand, slightly more than 75 per cent between taxicabs and pri- vate cars occurred at intersec- tions, as did approximately two- thirds of the collisions between taxicabs and pedestrians. Such information indicates conditions under which the greatest fre- quency of certain types of acci- dent may be expected and where, accordingly, the greatest care should be exercised by the opera- tors. Considering the accidents of all companies visited, the report continues, left turns were re- sponsible for about 56 per cent more accidental occurrences than were right turns. This figure in- creased to 66 per cent with re- spect to collisions with private cars, and 82 per cent where trucks were involved. In the case of pedestrians, left turns and right turns were responsible for ap- proximately the same number of injuries. Although, for the most part, accidents were distributed rather equally throughout daylight and ) < s DOWN THE ROAD—Recollections. THE SUNGAR STAR, WASHINGTON, DO'JIGGER IN THAR.. were a Novelty D. C, NOVEMBER 8, DRUVE ALLA WAy HERE, EH! WAAL.. < THEM CITY FOLKS BE = D)931 VY TEvBUNE, ine. 1931—PART FOUR. —By FRANK BECK AUTYMOBILE TRAVELERS TEVER SToP L~ RECISTRATION AID SOUGHT BY AM.A. Motorists Urged to Do Their drivers had two-thirds of the | early evening hours, they reached 1,871 accidents experienced by the |a peak at 5 p.m., when the eve- group. Studying the group a lit- |ning home-going rush usually tle closer it was found that one- |starts. Approximately 16 per cent fifth of the drivers had one-half of the accidents occurred during of the accidents and only one- the three hours of the evening tenth experienced as many as|rush period of 5, 6 and 7 o'clock, one-third of the accidents. The |and slightly less than 9 per cent report contains the stories of |during the morning rush period | of 7 to 9. This condition is usually | several high accident drivers and the steps taken to cure their ac- | found in an analysis of traffic ac- Part in Simplifying Licensing. * Pointing out that the vast majority of the Nation's 26,500,000 motor ve- hicles must be reregistered within the | next 60 days, the American Motorists’ Association today appealed to motorists to do their part in simplifying the gi- gantic licensing operation. Truly ef- ficient machinery for the distribution of new license plates has been set up in most States, but it is dependent for sound functioning upon the co-opera- tion of car owners, the American Mo- torists’ Association statement declares. Period of Irritation, “Motorists throughout the United States are approaching the period of that annually recurring frritation, the reregistration of their cars,” says Thomas J. Keefe, general manager of the American Motorists’ Association. “They have it within their power, how- ever, to remove the irritation from the situation. Every year it is the product of the individual’s delay in returning his | tag application and mailing his check | to the registration agency. This .year, | if the individual will make it a point 20| act early, he will find himself spared | that interval of worried annoyance over whether or not he is going to have his new tags in time. “Truly efficlent machinery has been established for the handling of the gigantic reregistration operation in virtually every State. This machinery, however, will function correctly only when the individual car owner makes it possible. If the machinery is swamped as it is nearly every year in | every State, a large share of the fauit lies with the dilatory motorist Human to Procrastinate. Pointing out that official registration agencies are fully aware that to pro- crastinate is human, the American Motorists' Association general manager continues: “As a means of making it possible to avold the traditional last minute rush for tags, many States have started their license distribution earlier from year to year. In addition, they have authorized the use of new tags much earlier than in the past, at least in & number of States. “These concessions have been made to the car owner in his own interest 1 85 well as that of the State which is trying to make this task more efficlent and less expensive. It is only the part of wisdom for the individual motorist to_take advantage of them.” Licenses in Washington will be! mailed provided the owner has secured his certificate of title, R ——— many accidents, speeding was not considered in terms of a high rate of miles per hour. In many cases, a speed of five miles per hour was found to be as elemental in the occurrence of an accident as was a speed of 35 miles per hour. cident proneness. cidents and it is considered the The organizations visited dur- ing the study operated 1819 cabs | last year, covering 51,212,768 cab miles and employing 3,764 drivers. A total of 11933 accidents were | involved. Of these accidents, the study reports, it was found that | collisions with private motor vehicles resulted in the highest | rate, being nearly 16 accidents | er 100,000 miles and represent- | ng 67.1 per cent of the total re- | ported accidents. Non-collision result of the fact that persons re- turning to their homes are more fatigued and are usually in a | ereater hurry than are those on the way to work in the mornine. Undoubtedlv, this condition of traffic generally has its effect on the occurrences of taxicab acci- dents. It will be noted also that nearly 20 per cent of the acci- dents occurred during the eve- ning hours, from 8 to 11 inclu- sive. This is usually a period when a large amount of the pleas- ure-driving is undertaken, as con- trasted with the commercial driv- ing of the earlier hours of the day. Week End Accidents. The occurrence of accidents was fairly well distributed relative to days of the week, but the highest lpercentages. 149 per cent were reported on Saturdays and 125 per cent on Sundays, when again MOTOR DON'TS for pleasure. It should be noted that Sunday is usually the day of light business for taxicab com- panies. One large operator esti- mated that the Sunday mileage is 25 per cent below the daily average. In all cities, the business sec- tions were the scenes of the ma- {:mty of the accidents. Although aving the greatest number of traffic control lights and appar- ently well policed by traffic offi- cers, the ratio of accidents for these sections was approximately four to one. Although fast was found to be a r-mm in Ir s A misTaKE To HOP IN YOUR cAR STEP ON THE STARTER AND DASH OFF - CHOKING,POPPING AND JUMPING. ‘A COLD ENGINE IS NOT READY TO FOR A MINUTE OR TWO,~ YOU WiLL. SAVE TIME , TEMPER AND TROUBLE! a large percentage of driving is, Nearly half of the accidents re- | ported by the drivers occurred \when the cab was moving at five {miles per hour or less. Further | study, however, revealed a tend- ency to underestimate speeds at | the time of the accidents, and, in a few cases, the speed approached 40 miles per hour rather than the much slower speed reported. Other Variations. More than half the total num- | ber of accidents were reported as occurring on the right side of the |street, approximately one-fourth in the center and about one-tenth on the left side of the street. A number of the “cutting-in” col- |lisions were found to have oc- | cured to the left of the center of i the street. Poor illumination af- | forded by street lights was given | as contributing cause for less than | {1 per cent of the accidents; one- | half of the collision accidents oc- curred during daylight. A study of the accident experi- ence of the reporting companies shows that accidents were more often severe, especially to passen- ers, when old type equipment or ighter vehicles converted for taxicab service were in use. A careful comparison of the rec-| ords of the companies indicated | that the sturdier, purposely de- signed taxicab not only suffers| less property damage itself. but also offers better protection to its occupants. Tires were re- ”:?ned as having suitable treads all cases; very few accidents were found to be the direct re- sult of “bald-headed™ tires. NATION'S MOTOR TRAVEL BILL ESTIMATED AT $2.750.000.000 Expenditures About 15 Per Cent Off as Compared WithLast Year,States Amer- ican Automobile Association. Estimating that approximately $2.- 750,000,000 was spent for vacation mo- tor travel within the United States during the present year, the American Automobile Association declared today that, while the total of travel expendi- tures was off about 15 per cent as com- pared with last year, the decline was not nearly as great as in other lines of business and industry. The A. A. A. statement was issued over the signature of W. G. Bryant of Detroft, chairman of its National Tour- ing Board, at the conciusion of & two- day meeting of the boards Advisory Comnmittee held in Washington. Shorter Vacation Trips. Pointing out that the drop in travel expenditures was largely due to the de- sire of motorists to economize by taking shorter vacation trips and limiting ex- penses, Mr. Bryant said that the im- portance of this great industry may be more readily appreciated when the de- crease in the travel bill is compared with the decline from 30 to 35 per cent in business and industry generally. The chairman of the A. A. A. Na- tional Touring Board. in summarizing the high lights of the year in the field of travel, said: “Travel to Europe was off about 20 per cent, and thousands of Americans who ordinarily go abroad spent their vacations in the play areas at home. Under the stimulus of this travel and the patronage of the millions who an- | nually turn to outdoor playgrounds, the national parks enjoyed an excel- lent year. The number of visitors passed the 3,000,000 mark for the first time and broke previous records by 14 per_cent. “While motorists generally were not inclined to take long trips, and there was @ decrease in transcontinental travel, the number of motorists taking | short trips and week end journeys was not far short of peak years in the past. This is evidenced by the fact that gaso- line consumption, a good yardstick for measuring the flow of travel, will show an increase for the year of about 10 per cent, as compared with 1930.” Road Conditions. Mr. Bryant called particular atten- tion to some of the road conditions that continue to prove a detriment to pleasurable touring in the United States. He said: “In spite of the fact that a uniform motor vehicle code and a uniform mu- nicipal traffic ordinance have been de- veloped, the millions of motorists who take their vacations along the high- ways are still confronted with a_verita- ble nightmare of different traffic laws and traffic regulations. This bewilder- ing diversity oftentimes destroys the mental poise of the driver and in turn serves to increase our accident and fa- It is clear that road laws and regulations must be made and ad- ministered on the basis of State and tality toll. regional plans and that the multi- plicity of agencies that now have a hand in creating our traffic potpourri must get out of the picture. “One of the most annoying elements confronting the motorist today is the large number of unnecessary traffic lights that have been erected in thou- sands of crossrcad villages. Some States have developed a standard for the erec- tion of such lights with a view to safety and the facilitation of traffic. But it is clear that the problem requires atten- tion on a Nation-wide basis. Urban Congestion. “Congestion in our urban areas is intensified apparently from year to year. Many of our large cities have not as yet developed arterial highways to take care of through travel or con- structed belt lines that will enable the touring caravan to avoid the congesticn. Even where such through highways and belt lines exist, they are in many in- stances poorly marked. The result is more _congestion, more bottlenecks, more loss of time, more ill-will and frayed tempers at the wheel. “Little prcgress has as yet been made toward the reconciliation of commerce and beauty along the highways built largely at the expense of the car own- ers. Apart from esthetic consider: tions, many advertising signs delibe: ately imitate warning and direction signs as to shape and color. This prac- tice verges cn the criminal and is some- thing that every State can control un- der its existing laws without any new legislation. “Detours, 0f course, are & necessary evil. It should be remembered, how- ever, that the motorist making a_trip is out to ‘tour, not to detour. It is true that State highway authorities in recent years have adopted a higher standard for detours, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, since |in many instances, detours are neither as well kept up nor as well marked with signs as they should be. Nor do the authorities always give information sufficlently in acvance as to the open- ing and closing dates of certain stretches of rond. “In this same connection, I might refer to the nuisance of and property damage resulting fiom being compelled to drive on Ireshly oiled roads. A con- siderable number of States have adopted the practice of handling one shoulder of the road at @ time, making quite certain that i* is completely dry before opening it to the motor caravan. This ought to be e without inconven- ience to traffic. “In some communities backward ad- vertisers are still indulging in the habit of employing yourg boys to distribute literature to fast-moving vehicles. Every State should have a law prohibiting the practice, since, apart from its being a nuisance, it constitutes a safety hazard. The windshield sticker should be uni- versally placed in the same category.” RECOVERY OF STOLEN AUTOS INCREASING Title Laws Aiding Officials in Running Down Thefts, Says A. A. A. There is no field of law enforcement in which greater results are being shown than in that of stolen auto- mobiles, according to the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association. The association pointed out that in 1930 there were 928 per cen: of all stolen cars recovered, as compared to only 75 per cent in 1919. “While this excellent record,” the statement continued. “may be largely attributed to the effective law, known as the Dyer act, which makes it a Fed- eral offense to move stolen cars ucross a State line, it is also due in part to the activitics of the A. A. A. clubs. “These offer substantial rewards for | the recovery of a car stolen from a member and the interlocking chain of more than 1,000 affiliated motor clubs makes it possible to give wide distribu- tion to reports of cars falling into the hands of thieves.” ‘The A. A. A. also pointed out that the States are more and more turning to the enactment of adequate certifi- cate of title l]aws. The statement con- tinued: ‘“‘Automobiles now attract thieves be- cause in many localities they may be disposed of easily and with little risk. In some States they may be transferred under the new owner's or supposedown~ er's name, with practically no check on the actual owrership. Naturally, these States have become the dumping ground for stolen automobiles. It is within the province of the State—espe- cially those which do not have certifi- cate of title laws—to stamp out the ROAD WORK TO KEEP ON DURING WINTER States Are Letting Contracts Now to Provide Men Employ- ment. When Winter comes highway con- | struction generally stops. This year, however, States, both in the North and South, are laying plans to keep as many men busy as possible. In Michigan plans are being made to carry on an extensive State high- way and local road program. Between | seven and ten million dollars will be spent on the State highway system by the end of the year. Work is to proceed on 22 bridge projects scattered in 16 counties to give a wide distribu- tion of work. The Michigan Good Roads Association is now conducting | & series of meetings throughout the | State to stimulate interest in creating Winter work and indications are that most counties will speed up contract lettings, so that many men will be given jobs very shortly. Minnesota is soon to take bids on | eight bridges and on monolithic con- crete culverts on 65 miles of grading as a step in her program for providing Winter work. Preference is being given to the letting of contracts for those projects most suitable for Winter con- struction. In the effort to give speed to current projects, Minnesota will not advertise for bids on 1932 construction until in November. Southern States are also going ahead with as much Winter road work as logically can be done. Louisiana still is under full steam and now, with 22,000 workmen, has more at work on roads than any other State. Pavin~ of course, cannot be done successfully in cold weather, but there are numerous other tasks that can be accomplished in the more moderate temperature of Winter, such as grading, drainage BB e NEW NODEL SEASON BEGAS NEXT WK Changes to Be Announced in Preparation for New York Show. Special Dispatch to The Star. DETROIT, November 7.—The offi- cially recognized new model season of the automobile industry is scheduled to begin one week hence. It will start with a country-wide showing of new Buick eights for 1932. This will be followed by disclosure of the Rockne six, & brand-new preduct, that is to be_bullt here. Following these will come either ad- vance showings or revelation of changes that numerous manuafcturers will make in preparation for the national show in New York on January 9. Precedent Set. By concentrating new showings into one period preceding the new year, the makers are setting a precedent that they hope will stand for the future. ‘Thereby, although the compact is un- written, they hope to create a peak of public interest that will stimulate production during the Winter, when the plants need it most. In doing so they will follow the seasonal example of other industries, like furniture and the clothing trade, which for years have found such pro- cedure beneficial. The new Buicks, it has been inti- mated, are to embody car-control device tl will mark a new departure for General Motors. The factory is in production on the new stuff and shipments to key points on the map have been under way for several weeks. ‘The initial heralding to the Buick field organization has been modernized. It has been visualized and vocalized in talking films that are to be exhibited | before dealers and salesmen in 31 cities before the public sees the 1932 cars. As for the Rockne slx, its name alone has been divulged by George M. Graham, its advance sponsor, who has been engaged for months in organizing its distribution throughout the coun- try. The name Rockne and its mem- ories naturally are associated with South Bend, Ind., but, according to Mr. | Graham, the new car will come from a Detroit factory, which has no connec- tion with the three Graham brothers. Mr. Graham’s plan is to tell everything, including specifications, and the date production is to begin, on or before No- vember 20. He has let it be known that the new six is to be a competitor in the low-priced fleld and that it is to be re- plete with new operation features, in- cluding a new form of cushioned power. The Rockne, those close to Mr. Graham assert, is to be a New York show entry, in which case it must come from an already established manufac- turer, The national show rules forbid | the exhibition of models from factories that have not been in business for at least 12 months, missions and new forms of driv- ing control are going to center atten- tion in New York and at the other big automobile shows of 1932. Free wheel- ing and synchro-mesh transmissions already are familiar in various forms. Further Elaboration. ‘The indications are that they are to undergo further elaboration and re- finement for next year’s use. With them are to come still more “silent seconds” to be produced by substitution of either helical or herring bone gears in place of the conventional straight- toothed kind. Interest in improved transmissions 3 WINTER MOTORING ENJOYABLE WHEN CAR IS WELL' HEATED Latest Hot Water and Hot Air Types Compared and Special Features of Design and Installation Noted. The unheated automobile, even among open models, may still be in the majority this Winter, but in the eyes of discriminating motorists who know the comfort and safety of warmth it will be as definitely outmoded as a parked car with a lap robe over its radiator. To meet the anticipated de- mand for heaters a number of addi- tional firms have entered the fleld, and every heater maker is offering new and strikingly improved models. Allows More Fresh Air. Accelerating the movement toward heat for the car in cold weather is the realization that when a car is warmed the occuvants are enabled to allow more fresh iir to enter the car. The fear that heating equipment would be unhealthy in an automobile, espe- cially a closed car, has not been borne out in practice. Drivers whose feet #nd hands are comfortable never are seen driving along with the windows closed, as is so often the case with un- heatod cars. While changes in heating apparatus for the car have been numerous in the past few years, many of the latest im- provements are not well known. Much of the success of any heater also hinges on care and skill in installation. Until very recently the difference in the de- sign of cars has not received proper consideration, with the result that heat. ;r: have not been uniformly success- ful. The rapid growth of hot-water heat- ers has been due, in part, to their ob- vious freedom from any possibility of exhaust smells, but motorists consid- ering improved heaters this year should not overlook the betterments made in the hot-air type heaters. The air heaters in their more advanced form are most effective with the modern high-com- pression motors, but require more ex- tensive installation and are priced higher than some of the best water heaters. It is a point worthy of utmost consideration to select a heater in ac- cordance with needs. Physician's Needs. A physician last Winter needed more or less constant heat on the short runs between patients’ homes. He selected a hot-water heater and had the fan belt removed from the motor. The result was constant warmth in the car. A tourist, on the other hand, equip} his car with a hot-air heater, warmth from around the exhaust pipe. At road speed he was able to obtain such a wealth of heat as to be able to open the windows and enjoy the crisp air without discomfort. Many people make the mistake of se- lecting an oversize hot-water heater, or using two or three heater units, when the car’s cooling system is already too generous. Instead of obtaining more heat by this process the driver finds he is unable to raise heat to the desired point for comfort. It is important to select a heater recommended by the manufacturer of the car, or one which the car dealer has found through ex- perience to be practical. One of the improvements of the pres- ent season is the development of a spe- cial type thermostat, which, in the extended circulation system, retards movement of the water sufficiently to raise the temperature. Such thermo- equipped with two-speed blowers, so that it is possible to have better control over the heat. They also feature special rotable deflectors which permit direct- ing the heat in any way most con- venient to the occupants of the car or most efficient. There have been some ingenious methods employed to effect this deflection, even to the process of directing the heat to the floor boards, where it is distributed by reflection. Hot-air heaters of the T type are more effective if installed the ton- neau rather than in the driving com- partment. By this arrangement there is sufficient heat for both those sitting in the rear and those on the driving seat. The reverse is preferable in the case of the water heater, but it is important to direct the heat upward if it is to curve down from the roof of the car into the tonneau to warm the rear-seat pas- sengers. The shorter the connections for s water heater the less the loss of heat through conductivity. This objection can be overcome, however, by sufficient insulation, but this adds to the expense. There is &n advantage in shorter con- nections for hot-air heaters in the fact that thesc connections tend to rot out after & couple of years of service, but the expense of replacement is not great. 1t is not generally known that the use of a hot-air heater has much to do with the life of the heater unit which con- nects with the exhaust pipe. Important Improvements. There have been important improve~ ments in heaters of this type the t year, however, so that units are less affected by condensation. Joints are proof gas I cars yhntea hvugr firl:xnlp"l‘c“ t!‘ - y the principle of rewarme ing of the car’s own air. With air heaters it is often a ques- tion as to where the air intake should be located. The older plan is to locete the intake funnel directly in back of the radiator. With the use of shutters which often remain closed, however, - care must be exercised in such installa- tion to make sure there is no leakage of gases from the oil pipe or the breather tube of the engine. With ea will have much to with the amount of heat obtained the car. A little experimenting will Temulta. 1 the Fumect o placed toe B 5 e el tmuadesmerewfllbomlnnm 1Y i stats are expected to play an important | Careful role this year in making heaters more effective. Doubtless some lence will be needed to demonstrate just how these thermostats will function with some of $he more viscous types of anti- freeze. -water heaters are Milady’s Heat the car this Winter for comft health and safety. s Copyright. 1931, the Russell Service. Motoring BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. Don't expect a two-way argument with a traffic officer when you've gone the wrong way on a one-way street. “Do you think it is necessary for a woman to get out of the car and watch proceedings when ordering gas and oil at a filling station?” asks a woman who is fearful lest her precaution be mistaken for officiousness. You will know how I answered this one when I record that after stopping for gas and ofl at a large service sta- tion while on a recent trip I found the oil filler pipe and the gas tank both wide open. Fortunately, the caps of both filler pipes are permanently at- tached on the particular car. This brings to mind the case of a ‘woman who, finding that the cap of the oil filler pipe had been lost, adopted the suggestion of a misinformed gentleman to fashion a temporary cap out of a corn cob. The cob made an excellent seal—in fact, too good a cap. Engines need ventilation in order that the pres- sure built up in the crankcase by the pistons will have a means of escape.|the Capping the only breathing port tightly will cause oil to be forced out of the crankcase. A woman from Chicago breezed into an eastern automobile club and asked for the name of a reliable alignment expert. The front wheels of her car were shimmying badly and she was :;.:u:ftpm chances for the balance of “Are you sure your tire pressures are balanced and that the front shock absorbers are working?” I ventured. “I've considered those points,” she returned. “But I note that one of the tires is wearing down rapidly.” That woman will not only get proper attention even though she is a stranger but will help the mechanic avoid detours. Women are just observing enough to suggest a bright future for themselves as good carkeepers. Efficlency in getting prompt and ac- curate road information may be just a matter of grasping opportunity. The other day a woman spread a road map that give quiet operation with new smoothness is sweeping America and | Europe as well. Reports from this year's Salon de L’Automobile in Paris and the Olympia Show in London speak of the interest over there and the fact that American engineers have been combing the field {or new ideas adaptable for this coun- ry. In London, they saw a profusion of them.. Among others, the Armstrong- Siddesley preselective gear and the Daimler improvement on it, known as the “fluid flywheel,” vied with the free- Wheeling and synchro-mesh devices used in the American models. With these at Olympia there was the Mayback as used in the German Mer- cedes-Benz cars. This is a preselect- ing mechanism with control from two levers on the top of the steering col- umn, The gear changing is effecte by means of suction from the engine operating constant mesh helical gears “selected” by overrunning clutches and acting on a vacuum servo prin- ciple. In Europe, because of high taxes, cost of fuel and other factors that make the price and maintenance of a hlfuc" the privilege of the rich, trans- mission development is confined to a few luxury models and production on them is ‘small. The American ob- servers, however, are examining every- thing that offers possibilities of making a go over here with the tag of Euro- pean prestige attached to it. So great is the interest in trans- missions generally that the Society of Automotive Engineers, from its quarters in New York, has begun ar- for exhaustive studies of and | ¢ over the luncheon table at a wayside inn, gave her order and commenced discussing the next portion of her trip with her companion. Another woman sitting at an adjoining table had just | covered the route and gladly volun- teered the necessary information. The opportunist saved 15 miles of bad road. It is natural for a woman to suspect that she is being imposed upo'r‘lu and that others will take advantage of her lack of mechanical knowledge about cars, but if the service men recommend changing the spark plugs every 10,000 miles she will denying herself full | engine efficiency if she declines to fol- low their advice. The truth is, 10,000 miles is the maximum life of many a good plug when the engine is operated on the most advanced kind of fuel. The trend is all toward changing plugs about once a year, or every 8,000 miles. East is West and West is East when it fo',(‘::m to hues Xurhu;; automobile. n & maroon nontey e color of the The is the color of th aristocracy of the Occidentals uvvl{ A check made at one of the most ex- wi i Compare These Prices FORD—A clusive hotels showed that a surprise ingly high lon of the highest Slgn mumutacturs were Gone in Taaren, eign man ure were e in trimmed in black. One reason why this color has caught the fancy of those who insist upon the most exclusive is because it is not so easy to keep in condition. Maroon spots easily and looks a bit sad when it fades. the perfume of the delicate roseffud maroon does not last. While it doés it is the king of car colors. : Do you occasionally have a door slammer as a passenger? If so, here's a tip that may save having to replace a window: Lower the glass all the way before the passenger alights. If she or | he gives the door a violent bang you will be well repaid for your precaution. A window is most likely to break when about three-quarters up. ‘Wearing slippery gloves when drive ing the car seems to be woman’s own way of courting an accident. One of" basic rules of safe steering is to be able to get a firm grip on the wheel, but you can’t do it with gloves that are too fashionably cut of certain kinds of materials. Wonder why womeén don’t use those special gloves they wear on the golf course? : ‘This Winter if the hot-water heater. does not give you the warmth you want ask the service man to disconnect the fan belt so that the radiator will run hotter. Unless a car is to be taken for a trip, or operated over hilly country, it often can be run without benefit of the fan. This has not only proved to be the best way to get efficient opera- tion from the water heater in some cars, but has also resulted in making the engines run better in cold weather. —_— Auto Forest Touring. Ninety-two mre'r cent of the visitors to the natios forests in 1930 traveled by automobile. Authorized Distributors Delco Batteries CREEL BROTHERS 1811 14th St. N.W. Decatur 4220 Clings stubbornly to motor surfaces — sur- rounding them com- pletely with full lubri- cation at all times. Try Autocrat the next time you its advantages for yourself. BAYERSON OIL WORKS